𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕

CHAPTER 4

Prince Eris wakes up early the next morning, the memories of the night before still fresh in his mind. The contrast between the heated moment in the garden and the tension in the carriage ride home seems to taunt him.

He rises and starts to dress, his movements efficient and almost robotic. He's in a strange mood, his usual cold exterior more guarded than usual.

After a quick breakfast, he heads towards the stables, preparing to leave. His men are getting the horses saddled, the preparations for the journey back to Arkann in full swing.

He walks up to his horse, double-checking the saddle and the bridle. As he readies for the journey back, his thoughts keep flickering back to you.

He has no idea why he feels the way he does, why your presence causes such a storm of conflicting emotions inside of him. But there's no point in dwelling on it, he knows.

Prince Eris is adjusting the stirrups of his horse, his focus seemingly on the task at hand. But as you approach, he glances up, his eyes meeting yours for a moment.

He doesn't say anything at first, just watching you as you approach. There is a slight frown on his face, as if he's not entirely sure what to expect from this interaction.

"You're up early." he remarks, his tone neutral, almost business-like. His eyes stay on you, studying you for a moment before he returns his attention back to the straps of the saddle.

"So that's it?" You say, making it clear you're upset.

Prince Eris pauses, his hands stilling for a brief moment. He looks up at you again, this time the frown on his face a little deeper.

"What's it?" he queries, his tone just a hint more guarded than usual.

You stare at him, frustration bubbling up inside of you. You had hoped to talk to him, to clear the air before he left, but his cold, aloof demeanor is already setting you on edge.

"You are just going to up and leave without talking to me about last night's events? That's all you do Prince Eris Remming, run away when you feel the slightest bit of emotion."

He straightens up, his jaw clenching at your words. Your accusation has struck a nerve, even if he doesn't outwardly show it.

"And what do you expect me to say exactly?" he replies, his voice low, almost a growl. He steps away from the horse, fully turning to face you

You clench your fists, anger and frustration mixing in your chest. "I expected you to have the guts to talk to me, Prince Eris." you retort, not willing to back down.

Prince Eris tenses, his eyes narrowing at being called out. "And say what exactly?" he repeats, the air between you crackling with tension.

He takes a step closer to you, his presence suddenly overwhelming. His eyes are fixated on you, his expression unreadable.

"You want the honest truth?" he asks, his voice low, almost a whisper. The intensity in his gaze almost makes you shiver

You nod, your jaw set tight. You feel like you're at a precipice, at a point of no return. The air between you is heavy, the words left unsaid hanging like storm clouds about to burst.

He's silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving yours. He looks almost conflicted, as if waging an internal battle. Finally, he speaks, his voice quiet but intense.

"You make it very difficult for me to resist you and I hate it." he states, his tone a mix of conviction and frustration.

He's now standing mere inches from you, his proximity making your heart skip a beat. His eyes never leave yours, his gaze intense, almost searing.